Stalk cutter attachment



June 16, 1931. A. L. FORTSON STALK CUTTER ATTAC-HMENT Filed April 4, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 34 E B l Inventor (/7 Z1 Zorzfirw;

A ltomeu Patented ,June 16, 1931 UNITED: STATES Asa I1. FORTSON, on MELVIN, TnxAs, Assrenoit ononn-ronnTi-r To aw. HUGHES, or

BnanY,TnXAs STALK CUTTER nTTAcHMnNT Application filed April 4,

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a stalk cutting attachment of the character referred to that is strong, compact and durable, thoroughly reliable for its intended purpose, very simple in its method of assembly, adapted for attachment to all standard struc tural implements, that is Very simple in its method of assembly, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and operate.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is disclosed an embodiment .of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications, may be resorted to without departing .from the spiritof the claims hereto appended. In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote throughout the several views':

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the stalk cut ter in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. Tie a perspective view'of the frame. Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown 7 rear of this beam. 5

the preferred embodiment of the invention,

5 indicates generally the beam of an agricultural implement such as a lister plow, planter or the like which projects forwardly of the earth working implement attached. to

On the forward end of the beam 5 is a clevis corresponding parts the I 1930. Serial 110'. 441,576.

to which horses or other pulling means may be attached.

- To one side of the beam 5 is secured a bracket 7 that haslateralears '8 secured to' thls beam, by means of bolts 9. The central portion of the bracket 7 is formed 'with a sleeve 10 and in this sleeve is a set screw 11 for anchoring an upright shaft within the sleeve 10, which shaft will be presently described.

The frame for the-stalkcutter is indicat ed generally at 12, and is of inverted U-shape in configuration. This frame has a relatively elongated crown orbight portion--13 dependlng from which are the side arms 14, 15 and each of the arms is formed withpairs of openin s' 16, 17.,

' Trojecting forwardly from the center (5r;

thebight portion is a straight arm 18 terminating 1n a sleeve 19. An upright shaft 20 has the lower portion thereof extending through the sleeve 19 and below the sleeve 19' there is mounted on the shaft, a collar 21 which is adjustable with respect to the shaft by means of a set screw 22. The axis of the sleeve is disposed vertically, and the shaft 20 projects therefrom in a vertical plane. The upper portion of the shaft 20 extends through the sleeve 10 on the bracket 7 and'interposed between the bracket and thesleeve'19 there is akiliadjustable collar 23 circumposed about the s aft;

Thus, it will be seen that the frame is ad justable'with respect to the shaft 20. The

sleeve19 of the frame 12 is freely turnable about the shaft 20. Risingfrom a pair'of bearing sleeves 24, 25 are arms 26, 27 which are bolted to'the depending arms 14, 15 of the frame 12.

Supported in the sleeves 24, 25 are metallic bushings 28 in which the reduced ends 29,

30 of the axle 31 are journaled. Grease or oil cups 24C25'- are'supported on the sleeves 24, 25 for. lubricating the axle ends that rotate in the'bushings 28.

31, is a shaft of angular cross-section disposed transversely of the agricultural implement which carries the stalk cutter in .accordv ance with the present invention.

Adjacent the reduced ends of the shaft31,

there are enlarged shoulders 32, 33 to prevent endwise play of the shaft in its bearings.

Four flat cutting blades 34 extend transversely of the frame to rotate with the shaft 31 between the arms of the frame. These bladesware disposed edgewise and their longitudinal edges, are sharpened as at 35 to cut the stalks. The blades are spacedat quadrants from each other, so that when the apparatus is drawn over the ground, the blades will successively engage the stalks in step by step relation to cut the same.

The end portions of the radially disposed blades 34 are bolted between the ends of two pairs of flat bars indicated generally at 36, 37, while the end portions of the alternate, radially disposed blades, are likewise-bolted between the ends of two pairs of flat bars,

indicated at 38, 39, thereby forming spokes for the-blades.

The bars 40, 41 of each pair arebowed outwardl intermediate their ends, in opposite directlons, and at their centers, bear against the opposed faces of the angular axle 12, as will be clearly understood by referring to F i 2 of the drawings.

ne each side of the axle, the pairs of bars, arebolted together as at 42, 43 to prevent the pairs of bars from springing over the corners of the axle, and also to prevent. lateral shifting thereof.

It is thought that the present embodiment of. the invention has been disclosed in considerable detail since in actual practice it attains the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description.

It is to be understood that by describing in detail herein any particular form, structure, or arrangement, it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims, or the requirements of the rior art. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is Y 1. In a stalk cutter and in combination,

spaced bearin s, a shaft of angular cross section journale in and arranged between said bearings, radially disposed blades spaced apart and grouped about said shaft, andpairs 0 connections betweenthe shaft and blades, located between the bearings; the connections of each pair being disposed at right angles to each other, and each connection including two bars disposed against opposite fiat sides of the shaft and receiving betweentheir end portions blades, means extending through and connecting said end portions of the bars and the blades, and means connecting the bars together at points intermediate the shaft and the blades and holding the bars against said opposite flat sides of the shaft.

2. In a stalk cutter and in combination, spaced bearings, a shaft j ournaled in and arranged between said bearings, radially disposed blades spaced apart and group about ASA- L. FORTSON. 

